In the 1970's, there was a group of American Peace Corps volunteers who helped teach the students at MRSM Kuantan. They taught us Maths and the Science subjects... but not English. The English language was taught entirely by local teachers, and such good English teachers they were. I love and respect all my English teachers then... and I do trust the present-day ones have the same capability and skills as those who helped me those years ago.
On that note, here's the first interlude for 2011 :
A Malaysian girl whose command of English is not too good, accidentally bumped into a Matsalleh tourist.
`I am sorry,' the girl said.
`I am sorry too,' responded the tourist.
The girl was puzzled and replied, `I am sorry three...'
The Matsalleh was even more confused. `What are you sorry for?'
Girl desperately offered, `I am sorry..... five?'
10 comments:
I believe the English Language teachers of the 60s and 70s were all wonderful teachers.
The present-day ones? Hmmmmm I'm not too sure.
I love the first interlude for 2011. It's so funny.
:)
Lita,
Actually I'm not sure about the present-day English teachers... but I'd like to say they are good... because some of my friends and relatives teach the subject, and they read this blog, hehe..
BTW, that first interlude is not ori... I copied from somewhere...
About today's English teachers: I can't comment, because I am so out of touch. But, your friends and relatives would probably speak like you, so where got problemo? ;)
However, given the English language syllabus that has been in place, I don't really have high hopes about the quality that's out there.
You say: " If really such help is needed, then I would think it would be better for the Americans to teach our local English language teachers, rather than directly teaching the students."
That's brilliant. You have seen a problem lurking, and you've so-easily hit on the solution. Do you think anyone out there, who can make a difference, will see this too?! Don't hold your breath while you wait, k!
I suspected our DPM got bored having to listen with so much Manglish around him. So perhaps he was thinking to brainwash our kids with the Hackney, or Geordie or even Texas slang. Right on sir, not bad innit? Stail gitu :)
*ROTFL* I really love that joke. But somehow when I repeated it to my co-workers, they just smiled. Me suspects that they didn't quite get it and probably think that this new person in the company is alittle loco. *LOL*
If I were the matsalleh I'd would have said "I'm NOT a TREE!"
Pat,
Perhaps the quality of the English teachers we have nowadays may never match those of yesteryears. Whether as a nation we are doing enough to address the issue, it is difficult to say.
As for me, I just do a small and manageable part... make sure my own kids have a good command of it.
Dr Sam, hopefully not the Texas slang lah... will sound too much like George Bush...
Andrea,
You surely know the essence of telling a good joke is in the delivery kan? Actually I didn't do too well myself when I first tried to tell it to a friend... I was already giggling when I reached part `three'... hehehe...
Kak Zen.... hahaha!
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